Self-waiting table.



Patented Oct. 22, l90l.

6. H. TOBEY. SELF. WAITING TABLE.

2 Sheets-.Sheet i.

(Applicatiup filed Mar. 29, 1901.)

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(No Model.)

W i/lnwooa a No. 684,886 Patented Oct. 22, I901. G. H. TOBEY.

SELF WAITING TABLE.-

- (Application filed Mar. 29, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2..

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UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE II. TOBEY, OF \VATERTOWN, SOUTH DAKOTA.

SELF-WAITING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 684,886, dated October 22, 1901.

Application filed March 29, 1901. Serial No. 53,458. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE l-I. ToBEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Watertown, in the county of Codington and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Waiting- Tables; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is primarily designed for use in connection with a dining-table in order to bring articles within convenient reach, and thereby avoid the annoyance and inconvenience occasioned by passing dishes and analogous articles containing food, drink,

and seasonings. The device is constructed for use in hotels and public eating places, and is provided with means for displaying advertising matter, which is brought to the attention of the customer or diner while waiting for service.

In its general construction the contrivance comprises a base or stand, a rotary table or platform, and an intermediate frame provided with rotating parts partaking of the nature of wheels, so as to reduce the friction incident to the rotation of the table to the smallest amount possible.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof, and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are necessarily susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of a device constructed in accordancewith and embodying the essential features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical central section thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of a disk or rotary support, showing the holders for receiving the advertising matter. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the frame on the line X X of Fig. 2.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The base 1, forming the stand, is provided upon its top side with a circular track 2 and is provided centrally with a rod 3, which serves to connect the base, rotary table or platform, and the intermediate frame. The form and size of the base 1 are immaterial and the contrivance may rest loosely upon the dining-table or may be secured thereto, as desired.

The rotary table or platform 4 is preferably of circular outline and is of larger diameter than the base 1 and is provided upon its bottom side with a circular track 5 of larger diameter than the track 2. A rail surrounds the table or platform 4 to prevent displacement of the dishes or articles placed thereon, and this rail may be of any construction and comprises uprights 6 and a wireor rod 7, the uprights being secured at their lower ends in openings formed in the table and having eyes at their outer ends, through which the wire or rod 7 is strung. The tie-rod 3 forms a vertical axis about which the table or platform 4 rotates, and this tie-rod has a swivel connection at its upper end with the table and adjustable connection at its lower end with the base 1, so as to provide for taking up wear and admitting of the parts being separated when required for .any purpose.

The frame 8 is of frusto-conical form and is arranged with the larger base uppermost. This frame extends from the base to the table or platform and incloses the space formed therebetween and forms a support and connecting means for the disks or rotary sup-v ports.9, which are journaled centrally thereto. There may be three or more of these disks 9, the number depending upon the size of the deviceand the height of the table 4 above the base 1. Thesedisks flare upwardly to correspond to the upward divergence of the sides of the frame 8, and their edges are grooved to receive the tracks 2 and 5,upon

which they run. The outer sides of the disks or rotary supports are dished or convexed and are constructed to receive advertising matter imprinted upon cards or slips 10, removably fitted to the said disks preferably by means of holders 11, attached thereto. These holders 11 are grouped about the axis of the disks so that one or more cards or slips may be in position to admit of the matter thereon being conveniently read.

By having the device contracted or made small at its lower end it occupies a minimum amount of space upon the table and dishes and articles can be placed so as to come heneath the table or platform at without interfering with the rotation or operation of the contrivanee. The holders contain the advertising matter and the dishes receiving sundry articlessuch as sugar, gravy, butter, seasoning, and the like-are placed upon the table or platform 4, and should a diner desire an article not conveniently at hand it is only necessary for the person to rotate the table or platform 4 to bring the same within convenient reach, thereby avoiding the disagreeable features attendant upon passing the same at table.

The frame is a segment of a sphere-i. 6., its outer surface curves equally in every direction from a given center. This enables the rotary supports 9 to fit close against the frame, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a device of the character set forth, a base,'an elevated table or platform mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, an intermediate frame having its sides 11 pwardly flaring, and rotary supports carried by the frame and adapted to travel upon the base and table, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination, a base having a raised circular track upon its top side, a table or platform mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and having a raised circular track upon its bottom side of greater diameter than the circular track of the base, and upwardlydivergent disks or rotary supports grooved in their edges to receive and travel upon the aforesaid circular tracks, substantially as set forth.

8. In combination, a base, an elevated rotary table, intermediate disks or rotary supports, and holders fitted to the said rotary supports and adapted to receive cards or slips containing advertising matter, substantially as set forth.

4. In combination, a base, an elevated rotary table, intermediate disks or rotary sup ports having their outer sides dished or made concave, and slips or cards provided With matter to be displayed and attached to the outer concave sides of the said disks, substantially as set forth.

5. In combination, a base provided with a circular track, an elevated rotary platform having a circular track on its bottom side of greater diameter than the track of the base, an intermediate frame of frusto-conical form, a tie-rod connecting the base, rotary table and frame, and disks or rotary supports journaled to the sides of the frame and adapted to run upon the aforesaid tracks and having an upward and outward inclination, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE H. TOBEY.

Witnesses:

G. R. WILLIAMs, 7. W. Tonnv. 

